Asian stocks climbed following record highs with gains led by Taiwan and Australia

On Friday, Asian stocks rose after U.S. markets hit new highs, supported by positive economic data and mixed corporate results.

Japan’s Nikkei 225 dipped 0.1% to 39,854.28, as investors stayed cautious before Sunday’s upper‑house election, which could strip the ruling coalition of its majority.

In Tokyo, the core inflation metric, excluding food and energy, slowed to 3.3% in June (down from 3.7% in May), yet still exceeds the Bank of Japan’s 2% objective, reports Associated Press.

Elsewhere in Asia, Hong Kong’s Hang Seng added 0.7% to close at 24,676.64, while Shanghai’s Composite rose 0.3% to 3,528.90.

Taipei’s Taiex was up 0.9%, buoyed by a 2.2% jump in Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co.’s shares after the chipmaker announced a near‑61% year‑on‑year surge in quarterly net income, driven by strong orders from AI customers worldwide.

On Thursday, TSMC’s U.S.‑traded ADRs ticked up 3.4% following its earnings release.

Mixed performance across Asia‑Pacific

Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 gained 1.5%, ending at 8,765.00, while South Korea’s Kospi eased 0.6% to 3,173.69 and India’s Sensex slipped 0.3%.

In the U.S., the S&P 500 rose 0.5% on Thursday to 6,297.36, eclipsing its prior high from a week earlier. The Dow Jones Industrial Average also advanced 0.5% to 44,484.49.

The Nasdaq composite notched a 0.7% gain to reach 20,885.65, establishing a second consecutive record.

AI stocks power U.S. rally

Trading on Thursday was calmer than the previous day, when President Donald Trump rattled markets by suggesting he had explored firing Fed Chair Jerome Powell, which he later dismissed.

Such an action might deliver the lower rates Wall Street craves but could also weaken the Fed’s resolve to contain inflation.

Yields on U.S. Treasuries fluctuated amid a string of strong releases. Retail sales topped forecasts last month, and the robust job market helped the economy avoid a downturn.

Meanwhile, AI-related names lent support to U.S. equities. Nvidia climbed about 1%, and PepsiCo jumped 7.5% after beating revenue and profit estimates.

In commodities, U.S. crude inched up $0.33 to $66.56 a barrel, with Brent also rising $0.33 to $69.85; the dollar hovered around ¥148.67, and the euro firmed to $1.1623.

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